Birr, South Sudan pound named Africa’s worst-performing currencies

The World Bank has identified the Ethiopian birr and South Sudanese pound as Africa's worst-performing currencies in 2025, losing 18% and 15% of their value respectively. The decline is linked to political and macroeconomic disruptions, including interruptions in oil exports in South Sudan and a rising premium in Ethiopia's parallel foreign exchange market. Despite ongoing foreign exchange reforms, pressure on the birr continues, while the South Sudanese pound faces structural challenges and currency speculation.